Introduction

The 5-inch Nokia XL is the largest in Nokia’s family of affordable Android-running phones, but just like all the rest in the X series, you’d find it hard to recognize it as an Android phone. This is because of Android Nokia X - the company’s own custom version of the platform that brings a Windows Phone-inspired interface and comes without all core Google apps. The Nokia XL does not even have the Google Play Store - instead it comes with Nokia’s own app catalog that lacks even very popular apps like Spotify and Netflix.

The Nokia XL also got quite a few things going on - the large and vivid display, a fairly well-optimized performance, dual-SIM connectivity, and it’s got both a 5-megapixel main camera and a secondary, front cam.

Can all these pros outweigh the cons of a weird Android experience and limited number of apps? Let’s find out.

In the box:

User Manual

Wall Charger with non-detachable USB cable

Headset

Design

The Nokia XL deserves its name - it’s big and unwieldy, larger than most other 5-inch phones.

You can tell just by its name that the Nokia XL is a large device. Knowing that it’s a 5-inch phone actually does not tell too much about the phone - it does not reveal the fact the bezels on it are huge (especially the side ones), and that it all comes in a pretty thick and bulky package. It is the 0.43” (10.9mm) thickness, however, that really contributes to a feeling of a rather unwieldy phone. Not only is it thick, it's also very heavy, measuring 6.7 ounces (190g), more than even most phablets. It is solidly put together, though, and does not screak when you hold it tightly.

Design-wise, the XL follows Nokia’s signature design language with a plastic wrap-around shell. The back is made of matte plastic that feels very similar to the material used in the Moto G, maybe a bit softer, but also very prone to attract oily fingerprints. Up front, there is just one capacitive ‘back’ key, right below the display - an element that reminds of Asha feature phones.

All physical keys are on the right side - the power/lock key in the middle, and the volume rocker above it, and while both are decidedly plastic, they are comfortably within reach of your thumb, and very clicky and easy to press.

Display

The 5-inch screen is not sharp, but it more than makes up for this with its great and vivid colors. Outdoors, though, it’s hard to read the screen.

The big highlight of the Nokia XL and the reason it carries its (not so flattering in apparel design) name is the spacious 5-inch display. It’s not truly XL by today’s standards, but it’s still big for this class of affordable devices.

The screen comes with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels (WVGA), which works out to a pixel density of the very low 189ppi. This drawback is most obvious when you look at text, which looks pixelated, forcing you to zoom in to be able to read it.

If you don’t obsess over pixels, though, the 5” display of the Nokia XL will definitely make you happy with its lively, vivid colors. It’s among the best screens on an affordable phone we’ve seen so far - it’s not too cold, it’s got deep blacks, and while it’s just a bit off in terms of color, it looks great.

Using the display under the direct sunlight outdoors, however, is a bit problematic - the peak brightness of 358 nits is on the low side, and the high reflectivity of the screen will force you stare and shield the screen to make out what’s on it. Finally, while viewing angles are not terrible, they are not good either and color and luminance decrease noticeably when you tilt the screen a bit.

The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set (area) of colors that a display can reproduce, with the sRGB colorspace (the highlighted triangle) serving as reference. The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x: CIE31' and 'y: CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.

The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.

The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance (balance between red, green and blue) across different levels of grey (from dark to bright). The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones, the better.

"Android Nokia X platform is a design mess"
"No Google Play Store and crippled app selection"
so, we are back to the days when you lower lumias scores cause you didnt like WP and the fact than the store dont have 1000000 copies of the same apps full of ads

In order to get the apps on the device, then it has to be rooted. Not to mention the warranty will be void if you do that on any Nokia X devices. Definitely not worth the money. Not to mention these devices have a cortex-A5 CPU, which is a very low spec, low speed CPU.

this is a good budget level smart phone However the New Nokia X2 has more Ram and a faster CPU. The X2 cost 135 dollars and has a smaller screen. and has front and rear cameras. these smart phones are made for selling to Folks who do not make as much money as Americans do who make minimum wage and these smart phones are for markets where the cell phone carriers do subsidize the price of a Persons smart phone. if you are dumb enough to think a 135 dollar smart phone will run as well as a flagship smart phone
you need Psychiatry. still though come on Microsoft put in the software so your X phones so they can access and run Google play sore apps. if you do these smart phones will sell OUT!

Was reading some user opinions about Nokia X and people have been having trouble running whatsapp. Go to youtube and there are several videos showing tips and tricks on how to get whatsapp working properly coz this Nokia X platform doesn't play well with whatsapp android. Pretty shocking, especially considering that the typical Nokia X buyer isn't gonna be the geeky type so they will be totally clueless. Also weird since Nokia went to all the trouble of woowing whatsapp onto their S40 and Asha phones - but now they let something like this happen? This whole Nokia X project looks like a half-hearted attempt and an EPIC FAIL!

1. Operating system is not Android. it is nokia software.
2. won't install any apps from google play store. not even from ovi.nokia store.
3. You can install apps from Third party store. But message appears if you install apps from third party store then nokia company is not responsible for data theft of mobile damage other than nokia.com. Even after installing it it never works. I installed compass but it shown the message that magnetic field not available.
4. Bluetooth works only for nokia handsets Nokia care center themselves told to me.
5. Poor display
6. To connect to PC you need to install nokia suite. Even then it may or may not connect to PC.
7. Can't install whatsapp and so many other apps.
8. Only thing is camera is good. Rest everything is bad.
9. Overall even cheapest local brand smartphones are far better than nokia Smartphones.

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